Cancer-free girl can enjoy Christmas at home again

An 11-year-old girl will spend Christmas with her family once again having been declared cancer-free.

Lola, from Thundersley in Essex, was the only child on her ward on Christmas Day last year after it was decided she could not afford to pause her bone cancer treatment, even for a few days.

This year, she has endured chemotherapy and received a new femur after a 10cm (3.9in) tumour eroded hers to the point of crumbling.

Lola's mum Kaisha praised her daughter and her 13-year-old brother Louie.

"It's been such a tough time for the family but Lola and Louie have both been so brave and resilient," said Kaisha.

Lola was diagnosed with spindle cell sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, in November 2024.

The family said it had been misdiagnosed as an ear infection, growing pains and muscle contortion.

Leigh-on-Sea charity Gold Geese has stepped in to support with bills and cheer her up with gifts.

Lola thanked the charity for organising her a trip to Port Lympne Safari Park near Hythe in Kent when she was "down in the dumps" and for helping with a party to celebrate the end of her treatment.

Louie was with his sister at University College London Hospitals last year and said: "What happened to Lola was hard for our whole family.

"Last Christmas we felt quite alone and Gold Geese supported us by sending us vouchers."

Kaisha recalled how her husband brought in a makeshift Christmas lunch, how she slept on a bed next to her daughter and how the children opened their presents in the hospital.

Gold Geese was founded by Katie Southgate in 2018 after her own child's cancer diagnosis, who is now cancer-free.

Ms Southgate said: "Christmas with cancer sucks, and even more so when you're a child and missing out on the festive fun your friends get to have.

"I wish I had a magic wand to make everything all right again. The only thing I can do is try my best to make things a little brighter."

She said none of this would be possible without everybody's "amazing" generosity, despite the fact that "times are tight".

In the UK, about 1,900 children aged up to 14 are diagnosed with cancer each year, including benign brain tumours.

This year, in an unexpected turn of events, a video featuring Lola was watched about 2.5 million times on TikTok, when she told pop singer and Hollywood star Ariana Grande, "by the way, my cousin thinks you're fit".

Lola had caught her attention during the Wicked: For Good premiere and her comment left the rest of audience in hysterics.

The actor replied "wow, that's so kind".

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